What Happened to September? Irma did.

I did actually get some scrapping done but much of the month was taken up with Irma.

Watching

Prepping

Going Through

Checking

Cleaning Up

Accident

Waiting on Tree Trimming

Waiting on Brush Removal

Waiting to Get Car Back

Trying to Find Normal

Post Storm Personal Observations

There was a point that I really wanted to leave but it was too late because there was not enough gas available to ensure safe passage and I sure didn’t want to be stranded on the highway during the storm. Next time I might try to leave earlier even if it puts my job at risk. If I can’t leave I might ask for some Xanax. By Friday before the storm, my anxiety levels were extremely high. Saturday, I bounced between okay and hardly functioning. What I wasn’t prepared for was that post-storm I that while emotionally I seemed to be okay my body still feels like it is recovering from high anxiety. And the hardest part of that is that life goes on. Everyone still needs to get to work, some activities are canceled but other are still happening, volunteer jobs still need doing, and duties need to be fulfilled. I think I’m starting to really move forward but we moved right from Hurricane September to Haunted House October with its hectic schedule, later evenings, and more driving. Here’s to November I look forward to your arrival.

A Few Photo Highlights

Taking a break from storm watching to visit a couple of State Parks

One of the main things we did to prep was to cut all the branches that actually touched the house or were over the cars.

Day of the storm we played some games together and the kids went out to fly there kite. I also created my own little safe space next to the bed.

After the storm, we decided to check for damage. Did some clean-up. Went out to find food. And had an accident.

Post Storm Coping included cheering the tree guys, waiting for the debris to go away, realizing how lucky we were when seeing the twisted tree branches when they were cut done, and taking a trip to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party as Hayden’s Guest.

The Sale of Simply Simple and More is On

Head over to GingerScraps for all sorts of wonderful items for sale at Ginger Scraps of Dagi’s Temp-tations items plus so much more.

Simply Simple 1

Just because this Simply Simple 1 is retiring doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have lots of great use left in this set of templates. The great thing about templates is that even in retirement they can be used for any of your scrapping needs including using them in challenges in most galleries because the template has a low enough percentage of the total layout that paired with a current kit you should be good to go. This set of templates contains 1 or 2 photos per layout, lots of white space, and simple element and paper accent layers to customize for yourself.

Simply Simple 1 – Template 1

I used the first template of the set to complete my layout of photos taken outside of the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm in Dubai. I took some shots out into the Persian Gulf and that is the focus of this layout. I used the white space of this Simply Simple template as a large photo space. This isn’t something I’ve really done before but I was very happy with the resulting look of the page. I used the two smaller photo spaces of close-up shots of a just a random person walking on the sidewalk and of Cuddles the Bear who traveled with us. I used MagsGraphics Summer Breeze to complete this layout. The fonts are Veteran Typewriter, Wizzta, and VII Arabian One Night Stand.

Simply Simple 1 – Template 2

I used the second template in this set to complete a layout of pictures taken in flight between Dubai and Bangkok. These are pictures my husband took. The kit used to complete the layout is Ginger Bread Ladies Away We Go and the font is Veteran Typewriter.

Great Kits Enhance Great Templates

I loved both of the kits used to complete this layout and both can be found at Ginger Scraps. MagsGraphics – Summer Breeze is full of cool greens and blues. It also has sand and other water-related elements as well. Away We Go by the Ginger Bread Ladies is full of all types of travel related papers and elements and has blue, red, and brown tones.

Well some how in trying to fix the sidebar which seemed to be on the wrong side of my layout I accidently bomb it. Good news posts and content seemed to be there but I lost all my widget material. So have patience while I rebuild. I think I will simplify a bit because I’m no longer part of the review crew and don’t need as many extras.

This is an interesting shot taken first thing in the morning as I headed into work. Problem is it wasn’t the photo I was trying to get. I have been working on the #capturinglifelaughterlove and #cy365 challenges through Instagram. I don’t get a picture everyday but I do my best. If I don’t get something one day I personally give myself until the end of the month to try to catch up. So on any given day I’m working on trying to get two or more pictures.

Which brings me back to the story of this photo of the week. As I walked up I could hear this crow really being loud. I saw him sitting on the handicapped sign. Two different pictures on my list were The Early Bird and Motion. As I snapped the picture I figured I had a good shot at getting at least one of those two. But as you can see I didn’t get either one. Silly bird.